2011 Fun Fourth Festival Events
Contact:
Grassroots Productions Limited, Inc.
Peggy Hickle: peggy@grassrootsproductionsltd.org
Brenda Studt: brenda@grassrootsproductionsltd.org
336.274.4595 office
Media contact for Freedom Run and festival weekend July 2 – 4:
Debbie Fuchs
Media office: Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St.
336.509.0743 – cell and text
Facebook: facebook.com/Fun4thGSO
Twitter: @Fun4thGSO
Media artwork and logos available www.funfourthfestival.org
Please note Freedom Run & Walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 25.
Parade, Street Festival and Fireworks are scheduled for Monday, July 4. New location for Fireworks is White Oak Amphitheatre at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2011 Fun Fourth Festival Events Scheduled for June 25, July 2 and 4
Greensboro, NC June 14, 2011 – Enjoy road races, a block party, a parade, a World Record attempt, a street festival, fireworks and more during this year’s Fun Fourth Festival.
The annual event, now in its 37th consecutive year, is a community celebration of Independence Day for Guilford County and the Piedmont Triad.
About 100,000 people are expected to attend Fun Fourth events this year in downtown Greensboro. Highlights include the Freedom Run & Walk, the Kickoff Block Party, Independence Day Parade & Street Festival, and the News & Record Pops Concert & Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale at its new location, White Oak Amphitheatre.
More than 100 businesses and the City of Greensboro help sponsor the events. More than 12,000 volunteer hours of assistance are also donated.
Festivities begin on Saturday, June 25 at 8 a.m. with the Freedom Run in downtown Greensboro. Participants run or walk in honor of our dedicated Military Personnel & Veterans. It includes the Fun Fourth10K, a 2-mile FunRun and Walk, the Tot Trot and Kids ½ K. The scenic courses go through historic residential areas and Fisher Park. The event is open to all ages.
The Start & Finish Line and Award Ceremonies will be staged beside the Greensboro Marriott Downtown at 301 N. Greene Street. Applications are available to download at www.funfourthfestival.org or register at the race site between 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. on June 25.
The Festival weekend comes into full swing with the Kickoff Block Party on Saturday, July 2, from 7 – 11 p.m. featuring WFMY’s Eric Chilton and his band, Eric and the Chill Tones (beach music/Motown) and Walrus (cover band). The Block Party will be held at the corner of Summit and Church Streets in downtown Greensboro. Bring your dancing shoes and lawn chairs. Parking is free. Admission is $10 per person, free to children six and under. Good food and cold beverages will complement the 50/50 Raffle.
The Independence Day Parade at the Fun Fourth Festival will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 4. The Parade heralds a day full of free fun as it winds through downtown Greensboro, beginning at N. Greene and Lindsay Streets, traveling south on Greene, east on Market, north on Church and ending at the Greensboro Children’s Museum. Greensboro City Council members and Congressman Howard Coble are among those scheduled to ride in the parade.
The day-long Fun Fourth Street Festival begins immediately after the Parade in Center City Park and the downtown Greensboro cultural district. Festivities include five stages of live music, food, arts, crafts, amusements, heritage exhibits and children’s activities.
An historic event will occur at this year’s festival next to Stage Two. Fun Fourth Festival and WFMY News 2 are joining forces to attempt to “Snare a World Record.” At 11 a.m., 1,776 drummers will perform a 5-minute snare drum roll to set a new world record. The previous world record was 1,682 drummers set in Diedenhofener, Germany, on August 30, 2009.
The musical stages have something for everyone – rock, urban, gospel, bluegrass, R & B, folk music and will showcase local talent such as CTG’s Triad Idol. Other musical acts include a returning favorite, the power pop trio of Big Bang Boom, local soul/funk band doby and the internationally known Celtic-Rock band The Rogues.
New this year is the community art project “Walk for Unity” sponsored by the United Arts Council and designed by local artist Vicki Longhofer. Lose yourself in the Fun 4th rope labyrinth in Center City Park. The labyrinth will have a spiraling path to its center that guests are invited to explore throughout the day. Festival-goers will collaborate by decorating the rope labyrinth with stars in honor of a veteran or loved one.
“The circle of a labyrinth represents unity” says Longhofer, a labyrinth keeper at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. “For the festival, the labyrinth represents celebration of our freedom and unity as a country.”
The July 4th weekend will end with an exciting event on Monday evening at White Oak Amphitheatre at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex with the News & Record Pops Concert and Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for parking and tailgating and at 6:30 p.m. for seating in the new Amphitheatre. The Pops Concert featuring the Greensboro Philharmonia Orchestra will begin at 7:30 p.m.; the Fireworks Finale will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. All parking is free. Cushions and blankets may be used on the lawn seating in the Amphitheatre. Food and beverage vendors will be accessible to concert goers and to those viewing from the parking lots.
Follow cancellation and weather delays via Twitter @Fun4thGSO.
For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, no pets, bicycles, skates, skateboards or coolers are allowed at any Fun Fourth Festival event, including the concert in the Amphitheatre and the Fireworks.
Full schedule of events and musical groups at www.funfourthfestival.org.
Festival schedule at a glance:
Saturday, June 25
Freedom Run & Walk
8 a.m.
Fun Fourth 10K and 2-Mile Fun Run & Walk
Pre-registration and fees online: www.funfourthfestival.org
Children’s races at 9 a.m.; no registration required
Saturday, July 2
Kickoff Block Party
7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Corner Summit, Lindsay & Church Streets
Admission: $10 at gate
Monday, July 4
Independence Day Parade at Fun Fourth Festival
9:30 a.m.
Parade route: Begins at Greene & Lindsay Street, travels south on Greene, east on Market, north on Church, ending at the Greensboro Children’s Museum.
Monday, July 4
Fun Fourth Street Festival
Downtown Greensboro Cultural District & Center City Park
9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Admission and parking free
Monday, July 4
News & Record Pops Concert and Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale
White Oak Amphitheatre at Greensboro Coliseum
7:30 p.m. -10 p.m.
Gates open for Parking & Tailgating at 5:30 p.m.
Gates open to seating in Amphitheatre at 6:30 p.m.
News & Record Pops Concert at 7:30 p.m.
Independence Day Ceremonies at 8:50 p.m.
Patriotic Music and Fireworks Finale at 9:30 p.m., weather permitting
- Admission and parking free; no pets, please.
- Tailgating allowed in parking lot only
- Food & beverage vendors accessible to Amphitheatre and parking lot
- Blankets and Cushions allowed on lawn seating in Amphitheatre
- No lawn chairs, outside food and beverages in White Oak Amphitheatre.
- Rain date Tuesday, July 5.
- Follow cancellation and weather delays via Twitter @Fun4thGSO
The Fun Fourth Festival is produced by Grassroots Productions Limited. This local non-profit organization focuses on charitable and educational activities which foster interest in local history and events in Guilford County. An advisory board of local business and civic leaders oversees the planning of each event.
The Fun Fourth Festival has been recognized as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism society and as an Outstanding Event by Celebration NC Foundation.
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